China – Conversation between M. Jean-Noël Barrot and his counterpart, Mr Wang Yi (3 March 2026)

M. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke on the telephone yesterday to Mr Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
The two ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East.

The [French] Minister recalled the Iranian regime’s responsibility in the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably struck several countries in the region. This chaos and terror approach follows its refusal to comply with Security Council resolutions regulating its nuclear programme and ballistic activities and banning support for non-state armed groups, and to enter in good faith into multilateral negotiations on its nuclear programme. The Minister also recalled the scale of the human rights violations committed by the regime in January during the bloody crackdown on public demonstrations.

The Minister added that the military operation by the United States and Israel was conducted without France participating or being informed. He also repeated that it was each country’s responsibility to prioritize international institutions to resolve disagreement and, if necessary, resort to the use of force.

The two ministers agreed on the need to work towards de-escalation, in conjunction with the Gulf countries, and find a path to a political resolution guaranteeing collective security interests and provision for the Iranian people’s aspirations, in the framework set by UN Secretary-General resolutions and international law.

The two ministers agreed to continue their close dialogue on the issue.